Sony is introducing an exciting new update for PlayStation Portal users participating in its Cloud Streaming Beta, enhancing the remote play system's cloud capabilities starting today. This update brings several improvements aimed at enhancing user experience and functionality.
A key feature of this update is the ability to sort games within the Cloud Streaming Beta catalog. Users can now organize their games by Name, Release Date, or by the most recent additions to PlayStation Plus, making it easier to navigate and find their preferred titles.
Another significant addition is the ability to capture gameplay during Cloud Streaming sessions. Users can access the create menu to take screenshots or record video clips, with support for video resolutions up to 1920x1080 and durations up to three minutes, as outlined in Sony's PlayStation blog.
Gameplay will now pause under certain conditions, such as when the PS Portal quick menu is opened, when entering rest mode via the power button, or if a system error message appears. Note that the rest mode pause is limited to 15 seconds; if the Portal stays in rest mode longer, the cloud streaming session will disconnect. This pause feature, however, does not apply to online multiplayer games.Additional updates include a queue system for when the streaming server reaches capacity, notifications for inactivity, and tools for user feedback. Sony has committed to further enhancing the service based on user input.
The Cloud Streaming Beta is exclusively available to PlayStation Plus Premium members, allowing them to stream select PS5 games from the PS Plus Catalog directly to the PS Portal. Last year's update transformed the Portal into a more versatile standalone cloud streaming device, and Sony appears dedicated to refining this feature over time.
As cloud streaming becomes increasingly integral to the gaming ecosystem, it will be fascinating to see how Sony's service develops in conjunction with the PlayStation Portal. The ability to capture numerous screenshots while streaming to your Portal is certainly a welcome addition for gamers.
